66 THE HORSE, ASS, AND MULE 



thick. Depth of body at both front and hind flanks is desirable, 

 with not too much prominence and overshadowing of hips. 



The croiip furnishes the power ; hence it should be long and 

 broad, carried high, and thickly muscled. A steep, short croup 

 is inconsistent with well-balanced conformation. The tail should 

 have a high attachment and be carried with style. 



The thighs and quarters of the heavy harness horse must be 

 muscular and plump, showing fullness of outline. The muscle of 

 the thighs at the quarters must be thick and deep, giving fullness 

 to the hind end. The gaskin, or lower thigh, should be strongly 

 muscled and long. 



The hocks of the heavy harness horse, viewed from one side, 

 should be deep from front to the point behind ; the front should 

 be broad and the rear thin, the entire joint being lean and smooth, 

 with no puffiness or coarseness. The action so essential in a 

 coach horse can only be found in a normal, smooth, and strong hock. 



The legs of the heavy harness horse, as a whole, must show 

 cleanness, good bone, and plenty of muscle. The arm must be 

 short, broad, and flat, with great muscle development. The elbows 

 should stand out, showing room between the legs and chest, indi- 

 cating easy-moving power. If the elbow is too close to allow the 

 easy insertion of the hand between it and the body, the legs will 

 not stand straight and the front toes will turn out, while if the 

 elbow is too far from the body, the opposite result will obtain, in 

 either case giving an awkward movement. The forearm should be 

 very long and strongly muscled, wide at top, and tapering grace- 

 fully downward. The knee in its strength is broad in front and 

 narrow behind, full and prominent, and strongly attached both 

 above and below. Sometimes the knees come too close together, 

 often they are crooked, and occasionally they project too far over 

 the cannon bones. The cannons, both front and rear, should be 

 flat, smooth, short, and strongly attached above and below. The 

 tendons which pass along behind should stand out clear and 

 strong, thus giving depth to the leg at this point. As the hand is 

 passed down over the cannons no unnecessary roughness should 

 be felt. Under both knee and hock the cannons should be deep, 

 showing a strong attachment at these joints. The fetlock should 

 be strong and placed straight and should be free from fleshiness. 

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